Graham retains mayor’s office in Scottsburg; Bush will take lead January 1 in Austin

Written by Marty Randall

Wednesday, 11 November 2015 08:26

A comprehensive attempt by Scottsburg City Council President Terry Amick to wrest the reins of the mayor’s office away from the steady hands of incumbent Bill Graham was foisted by Graham supporters on Tuesday, November 3.

Crashes on Interstate 65 in Scott County last Tuesday sends severely injured driver to hospital

Written by Marty Randall

Tuesday, 10 November 2015 12:10

A crash on Interstate 65 occurring on Tuesday, November 3, left the seriously-injured driver in need of immediate medical attention.

Four officers from the Sheriff's Department responded to a dispatch that went out at 6:19 p.m. in response to 9-1-1 calls from Interstate 65 on Tuesday evening.

Chief Deputy Don Campbell, deputies Shawn Mayer and Jac Sanders and Reserve Deputy B.J. Best raced to the scene, about two miles south of Scottsburg in the northbound lanes. They were joined by Trooper Tracy Spencer of the Indiana State Police, Sellersburg post, Scott County EMS technicians and First Responders from the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department.

What they found was like a scene out of a horror movie. According to what Trp. Spencer learned from two semi-truck drivers, Randy Wolke, 58,Coon Rapids, Mn., and Michael Smith, 23, Indianapolis, a black 2009 Toyota Corona driven by Charles Oatten, 20, Westland, Mi., caused the horrific accident.

Oatten had been driving southbound when, for an unknown reason, his car went out of control and crossed over the grass median, entering the northbound lanes. It then struck Wolke's 2013 Kenworth semi-truck head-on.

The Corona was pushed around 100 feet north and then came to rest in the median.

Several calls were made by I-65 motorists to the 9-1-1 Center, and officers and emergency aid staffs responded quickly. Their subsequent actions saved Oatten's life at the scene.

He was horribly hurt, his arm and shoulder ripped from his body. Pressure was applied to the wound, while First Responders located the missing limb about 50 feet away from the car and preserved it. The limb went along with the unconscious Oatten in the medical helicopter, which landed on the closed northbound lanes and took Oatten directly to University of Louisville's trauma center.

On Wednesday, November 4, the Michigan man was listed in critical condition. No further information about Oatten's condition has been released.

Surprisingly, neither semi-truck driver was injured in the mishap, which happened on a stretch of I-65 not protected by an emergency fence barrier designed to prevent cars and pickup trucks from crossing over and entering opposite lanes.

A cause of the crash was still being pinpointed by the ISP post, which sent a crash reconstruction specialist to the site.

All of this activity shut down the northbound lanes until after 10 p.m. At one point around 8 p.m., even southbound traffic was halted.

The ensuing actions caused quite a backup on I-65, with some traffic being diverted to U.S. Highway 31 at the Henryville interchange.

He usually had a smile on his face and a greeting on his lips, more than likely a light-hearted, “How you doing, kiddo?”

When he was tending the store, Cathcart and Company in Scottsburg, Robert “Bob” Cathcart could be counted on slipping out of the shop for some refreshment and conversation with friends at Hancock's Drugstore a couple of times a day.

The 80-year-old retired teacher and businessman passed away on Saturday, November 7, at the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center in Bonnyman, Ky. Bob and wife Nancy Napier Cathcart had retired to Perry County, Ky., some years ago after Nancy, also a longtime teacher for Scott School District 1, finally left the classroom for good.

Bob was the son of the late Lynn William Cathcart and Kathleen Perry Cathcart. His dad was a barber, and it was in his shop that Bob started a coin and jewelry shop on North Second Street in Austin. Adept at business, Bob moved the shop to Crothersville and then, finally, to its Scottsburg location at the corner of West McClain Avenue and South Railroad Street.

He had a good time operating the store, becoming extremely familiar with the fluctuating values of coins, precious metals and gems. The couple's son, Robbie, grew into the business, becoming his dad's partner. He now operates the Scottsburg store.

What set Bob Cathcart apart, though, aside from his perpetually friendly manner, was his ability to teach all types of mathematics to scores of Austin High School students over the years. He was a math whizz. Bob got his undergraduate degree from Cumberland College in 1963 and joined the Austin High School staff that same year. He received his master's from Purdue University in 1970.

Bob handled a large teaching load and the shop for years, also serving as the District 1 athletic director from 1976 to 1981. He also stepped in and served as assistant principal for the high school in 1986-87.

Bob retired in 1992 and then devoted all his attention to the store before he and Nancy retired to Kentucky to be close to other family members.

He was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran and a member of Austin Christian Church.

His survivors include his wife of many years; son Robert “Robbie” L. Cathcart and his special friend Stephanie Sears; a son, Gabriel Cathcart; a sister, Carolyn Johnson and husband Robert; and sister-in-law, Von Boggs.

Calling and a celebration of life was conducted on Monday evening, November 9, at Maggard's Mountain View Chapel in Hazard, Ky.

Locally, visitation was held on Tuesday evening, November 10, at the Buchanan Funeral Home in Austin.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) at the Buchanan Funeral Home. The Rev. Don Watts will officiate.

Cremation has been requested by the family.

Memorial donations may be arranged through the staff of the funeral home to benefit the Napier-Pollard Relay for Life Fund.